Cola consumption slumps to 30-year low in the US

Overall sales of the carbonated soft drinks have dropped for the 11th consecutive year in the US. In 2015, the total volume of soda consumed in the US has dropped 1.2 per cent as compared to a drop of 0.9 per cent in 2014.

The amount of Coke consumed by Americans dropped by 1 per cent by volume, while Pepsi Cola dropped 3.2 per cent.

The industry has found itself out of favour as consumers seek beverage alternatives to soda that they deem healthier, notably juices and flavoured waters. Those alternatives don’t contain as many calories as soda, and also don’t include ingredients like the sweetener aspartame, which has fallen out of favour in recent years.

Americans turning away from landmark soda brands is an obvious negative for PepsiCo and Coca-Cola. However, the companies are working hard to solve the problem – and to convince others declining soda consumption may not be such a huge issue after all. One way that the industry is trying to lure people back to the category: smaller cans and bottles.